Instrument Care
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A Huge Range of Brass Musical Instruments | Searchable Listings | Mail Order Delivery | Great Brass Musical Instrument DealsCare Advice: Trumpets and Valved Instruments The valves of your trumpet or valve instrument will need regular lubrication. This is done by unscrewing the valve cap and extending the valve to half way, applying a dot of valve oil to the valve’s widest part, and pushing the valve back into place taking care to ensure that it is correctly aligned. Checking the alignment is very simple – try gently turning the valve. If it won’t turn, the valve is lined up correctly. If does turn, keep turning it until you hear a click and the valve won’t turn anymore. It is very important that once you have finished playing for the day, all moisture is removed from the inside of the horn. To do this, open the water keys and blow through the instrument. Wipe the exterior to remove any oils from your fingers, and put the instrument back in its case. Not only does this protect your instrument from damage, but it also helps to keep it clean. Never place items in the case with your instrument which are not meant to be there. When the lid is closed, they may press against your instrument and cause damage to delicate slides and valves. If the mouthpiece becomes stuck, don’t panic, and never, ever, try to force it off. This could cause significant damage. Your local music store should be able to remove it quite easily for you, and probably will not make a charge. They often use a special instrument called a mouthpiece puller. The easiest way to avoid mouthpiece problems is to ensure they are inserted properly into the receiver in the first place. Incorrect insertion is the most common cause of stuck mouthpieces. The correct method of inserting a mouthpiece is to lie the mouthpiece in the receiver and apply a tiny amount of pressure to help it stay in place. You may give a slight twist, with the emphasis is very much on slight. Excessive twisting will almost certainly result in the mouthpiece getting stuck. You will need to check that all slides are moving freely and lubricate them with slide grease as necessary. The inside of your valve instrument will need regular cleaning – we recommend at least every three months. Please scroll down the page to see our General Guide to Cleaning Brass Instruments. You may wish to consider having your instrument chemically cleaned from time to time. The results are very impressive and far exceed what can be achieved manually at home. Speak to your local music shop for further details and prices. Care Advice: Trombones It is important that you exercise great care when handling your trombone. The slide is exceptionally delicate, and the slightest knock could cause a dent which might hamper its movement. The slide will require regular lubrication. You will need to apply a little slide cream or oil to the boot area of the slide. The boot is at the end of the slide, so you should exercise great caution to ensure the slide does not slip off the trombone. As with valve instruments, once you have finished playing your trombone, you should ensure that all moisture is removed from the inside of the horn. Open the water keys and blow through the instrument. Wipe the exterior to remove oils from your fingers, and put the instrument back in its case. Not only does this protect your instrument from damage, but it also helps to keep it clean. Never place items in the case with your instrument which are not meant to be there. When the lid is closed, they may press against your instrument and damage its delicate slides. If the mouthpiece becomes stuck, again, don’t panic, and don’t try to force it off. Take it to your local music shop to remove. As with valve instruments, the problem of stuck mouthpieces is usually caused by incorrect insertion. The correct method of inserting a mouthpiece is to lie the mouthpiece in the receiver and apply a tiny amount of pressure to help it stay in place. You may give a slight twist, with the emphasis very much on slight. Excessive twisting will almost certainly result in the mouthpiece getting stuck. You will need to check the tuning slide from time to time to ensure that it moves freely, lubricating it with slide grease as necessary. As with valve instruments, the interior of your trombone requires regular cleaning which should be carried out at least every three months. You may also wish to consider an occasional chemical clean (contact your local music store for more information) to bring out the best of your instrument and make it look just like new! General Guide to Cleaning Brass Instruments Some instruments, such as trumpets, can easily be cleaned at home. Others, such as French horns, rotor tubas and rotor trombones (all of which can be extremely expensive), require expert cleaning in only the hands of a professional. We therefore recommend that you raise the issue with the vendor when you purchase your particular instrument. It is always better to be safe than be sorry! Assuming your instrument is suitable for home cleaning, the procedure isn’t nearly so daunting as it may first appear. You will need: Brass instrument cleaning brushes Valve oil Slide grease Washing up liquid The ideal location for cleaning your instrument is the bath, unless you have a particularly large sink. It is a good idea to lay the parts out for drying on a towel, ideally off the floor and out of harm’s way. Firstly, remove all slides, valves and valve bottom caps. Do so very carefully, exercising extreme caution in the case of trombone slides because, as discussed, these are particularly delicate and susceptible to damage. If any slides are stuck, do not try to force them. Take them to your local repair shop and have them removed. Again, better safe than sorry! Setting the valves to one side, place all of the other parts in tepid water containing a squirt or two of washing up liquid. Leave the parts to soak for approximately ten minutes, whilst you attend to the valves. Run tepid water over the valves and brush out all valve openings with the valve brush. Shake off the excess water and place the valves to one side to dry. Using a snake brush, brush out all the tubes. Brush out the valve casings with the valve brush. Ensure that any dirt and debris is cleaned from the inside of the valve bottom caps. Rinse out the instrument in tepid clean water. Carefully wipe off the instrument and set it aside to dry completely. It is imperative that the interior of your instrument is bone dry before you proceed any further. Apply a little slide grease to the slides and reassemble. In the case of a trombone, never put slide grease on the main slide – slide oil or cream must be used here. Replace the valve bottom caps. Add a drop of valve oil to each valve and put them in their proper place. All valves are numbered for easy reassembly. It is important that valves are replaced in their correct position, otherwise the instrument will not play properly. Give the outside of the instrument a wipeover to remove fingermarks, and that’s it! Mission accomplished! Your brass musical instrument is gleaming like a new penny and you’re ready to play with the best of them!
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Instrument Care
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